A New York Congressman today denounced as “Unconscionable” the shipment of United States arms, including tanks and military planes, to Jordan, while El Fatah terrorists based on Jordanian soil raid Israel territory and shell Israeli villages. Rep. Seymour Halpern. Republican, said he would raise a question in Congress about the financing of the arms by American tax-payers for terrorist collaborators abroad.
The State Department yesterday confirmed the arms shipment. They said it was part of a “package deal” reached with Jordan last March, not related to any immediate military situation but Intended to maintain the security and stability of King Hussein’s regime. Officials refused to divulge the types of arms but it was reliably learned that they include 100 Patton M-48 tanks, being shipped by sea via the Jordanian port of Aqaba, and anti-tank weapons, mortars, artillery, ammunition and anti-aircraft equipment, part of which is being rushed to Jordan by U.S. Globemaster transport planes. In addition, 12 F-104 Star fighter jet fighting planes have been “consigned” to Jordan for air defense. Their delivery was described as “in process.” Halpern said “it would appear that King Hussein’s reward for refusal to enter peace negotiations and his obvious collaboration with terrorist guerrillas is the supply of American arms financed by U.S. taxpayers.” The Congressman added, “this policy is absurd.”
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